Turnbuckles everywhere sigh in relief - RIP George "The Animal" Steele
February 17, 2017 1:10 PM Subscribe
Wrestling legend George "The Animal" Steele (real name Jim Myers) has died at the age of 79.
Myers wrestled for more than 20 years, mostly as Steele, a Neanderthal-ish character who grunted and hooted while wrestling a surprisingly technical style, but also frequently biting his opponent (and the ring turnbuckle). Steele never won a major championship in wrestling, but was one of the most famous and beloved characters of the mid-1980s boom, particularly during his feud with Randy "Macho Man" Savage, which was caused by Steele's infatuation with Savage's manager, Miss Elizabeth. As a result of his popularity, Steele was inducted into the third class of the then-WWF Hall of Fame.
Throughout his career thrilling and scaring wrestling audiences as "The Animal", Myers was a beloved coach of several sports at Madison High School in Madison Heights, Michigan. He was inducted into the Michigan High School Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 1996.
Wrestlers and others remembered Steele fondly on Twitter and Facebook.
Myers wrestled for more than 20 years, mostly as Steele, a Neanderthal-ish character who grunted and hooted while wrestling a surprisingly technical style, but also frequently biting his opponent (and the ring turnbuckle). Steele never won a major championship in wrestling, but was one of the most famous and beloved characters of the mid-1980s boom, particularly during his feud with Randy "Macho Man" Savage, which was caused by Steele's infatuation with Savage's manager, Miss Elizabeth. As a result of his popularity, Steele was inducted into the third class of the then-WWF Hall of Fame.
Throughout his career thrilling and scaring wrestling audiences as "The Animal", Myers was a beloved coach of several sports at Madison High School in Madison Heights, Michigan. He was inducted into the Michigan High School Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 1996.
Wrestlers and others remembered Steele fondly on Twitter and Facebook.
His was the first of those WWF rubber action figures that I had as a kid - the ones where the paint would rub off if you breathed on them too heavily. Luckily the blue tongue never faded on mine.
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posted by Space Coyote at 1:22 PM on February 17, 2017 [1 favorite]
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posted by Space Coyote at 1:22 PM on February 17, 2017 [1 favorite]
Him as Tor Johnson was about as perfect as Hollywood casting gets.
And if you're curious to hear how Myers spoke when not in character as George the Animal or Tor...
posted by Atom Eyes at 1:30 PM on February 17, 2017 [6 favorites]
And if you're curious to hear how Myers spoke when not in character as George the Animal or Tor...
posted by Atom Eyes at 1:30 PM on February 17, 2017 [6 favorites]
When Ed Wood came out, there was this great story where George found out someone was selling "George The Animal Steele" Halloween masks, and he knew he hadn't authorised it.
They were just repurposing Tor Johnson masks.
posted by Katemonkey at 1:41 PM on February 17, 2017 [3 favorites]
They were just repurposing Tor Johnson masks.
posted by Katemonkey at 1:41 PM on February 17, 2017 [3 favorites]
I'm just relieved that one of them managed to die at a normal age. The WWF absolutely chewed up its 80s/90s stars, physically and mentally, to the extent that I feel vaguely guilty about having enjoyed it as a young person.
posted by praemunire at 1:49 PM on February 17, 2017 [6 favorites]
posted by praemunire at 1:49 PM on February 17, 2017 [6 favorites]
He's biting the angels now.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 2:12 PM on February 17, 2017 [11 favorites]
posted by DirtyOldTown at 2:12 PM on February 17, 2017 [11 favorites]
I don't recall him ever saying a word on camera but he had serious charisma and the crowds ate it up like a turnbuckle. He was a great performer.
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posted by cmfletcher at 2:22 PM on February 17, 2017
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posted by cmfletcher at 2:22 PM on February 17, 2017
i wrote a song about encountering him - actually, we didn't go over to his table and try to talk - we were drinking and tripping and well, you know ...
posted by pyramid termite at 2:45 PM on February 17, 2017
posted by pyramid termite at 2:45 PM on February 17, 2017
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posted by Ten Cold Hot Dogs at 3:25 PM on February 17, 2017
posted by Ten Cold Hot Dogs at 3:25 PM on February 17, 2017
That interview was fantastic - what a memory, and what a way of relating memorable stories!
I'm kind of excited for the upcoming Bill Simmons documentary on Andre The Giant - there's so much source material like this. Hulk Hogan could go on for hours and hours on the man, as he started out as Andre's protege - basically an errand-boy, intern and personal jobber (unknown wrestler designated to fall to the superstar at every stop).
George The Animal Steel was a legit freak athlete from before the time of performance enhancing drugs, a clever and kind man who could act up a storm in roles where he wasn't. He was always so fun to watch.
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posted by Slap*Happy at 4:02 PM on February 17, 2017 [3 favorites]
I'm kind of excited for the upcoming Bill Simmons documentary on Andre The Giant - there's so much source material like this. Hulk Hogan could go on for hours and hours on the man, as he started out as Andre's protege - basically an errand-boy, intern and personal jobber (unknown wrestler designated to fall to the superstar at every stop).
George The Animal Steel was a legit freak athlete from before the time of performance enhancing drugs, a clever and kind man who could act up a storm in roles where he wasn't. He was always so fun to watch.
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posted by Slap*Happy at 4:02 PM on February 17, 2017 [3 favorites]
Atlantic City NJ Convention Center, 1974. Thirteen year old me watches him bite a turnbuckle cover to pieces during a match. What a great entertainer. RIP.
posted by fixedgear at 5:41 PM on February 17, 2017
posted by fixedgear at 5:41 PM on February 17, 2017
He was my all-time favorite.
posted by boilermonster at 11:02 PM on February 17, 2017
posted by boilermonster at 11:02 PM on February 17, 2017
Dammit. I hate that I was surprised he was still alive, and saddened that his normal lifespan is such an irregularity because of central issues in wrestling, which I love, but find myself needing to justify loving it much more than I used to.
posted by Ghidorah at 2:05 AM on February 18, 2017
posted by Ghidorah at 2:05 AM on February 18, 2017
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posted by oneironaut at 6:21 AM on February 18, 2017
posted by oneironaut at 6:21 AM on February 18, 2017
And also RIP Ivan Koloff, who ended Bruno Sammartino's insane 7.5-year run as WWWF champion.
posted by Etrigan at 7:34 AM on February 18, 2017
posted by Etrigan at 7:34 AM on February 18, 2017
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posted by Fuzzy Monster at 2:23 PM on February 18, 2017
posted by Fuzzy Monster at 2:23 PM on February 18, 2017
Andre the Giant used to be casually racist. Then he met Bad News Brown. Bad News Brown wanted to fight it out, and that made Andre re-assess. This little guy wants to fight me outside the ring? But why?
They talked it out.
Andre then does this.
posted by Slap*Happy at 8:58 PM on February 19, 2017 [1 favorite]
They talked it out.
Andre then does this.
posted by Slap*Happy at 8:58 PM on February 19, 2017 [1 favorite]
I don't recall him ever saying a word on camera but he had serious charisma and the crowds ate it up like a turnbuckle. He was a great performer.
Oh, he spoke on camera. Sometimes slightly lucidly.
posted by delfin at 7:19 AM on February 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
Oh, he spoke on camera. Sometimes slightly lucidly.
posted by delfin at 7:19 AM on February 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
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posted by Faint of Butt at 1:15 PM on February 17, 2017 [11 favorites]